Hard hat sun shade

ABSTRACT

A sun shade for a hard hat includes a piece of flexible material removably and adjustably attached to a hard hat that is stretched to a substantially consistent shape by a piece of springing material. The flexible material may be attached to the hard hat using an elastic band, drawstring, or similar means for attaching. When not in use, the springing material may be removed from the flexible material and stored as a straight piece of material or rolled and stored as a coil. Additionally, the flexible material, such as fabric or soft plastic, may be folded and stored. The flexible material may also include a flap that drapes over the sides and back of the user&#39;s neck to provide enhanced protection from direct radiant energy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is related in general to the field of personal protective equipment. In particular, the invention consists of a sun shade that can be removably adjustably attached to a construction helmet (“hard hat”).

2. Description of the Prior Art

Construction helmets, known as hard hats, are used extensively in construction, mining, and engineering projects to protect the head of a user. The primary purpose of these hard hats is to prevent falling objects from physically striking the user's head. It is expected that an object striking the hard hat will bounce off or become redirected in a glancing blow that reduces the force of the impact to the user. Additionally, by positioning the outer surface of the hard hat so that is has physically separation from the head of the user, the hard hat may act as a shock absorber, converting some of the kinetic energy of a falling object to potential energy that is released after the falling object has already bounced away.

Such a hard hat is illustrated by the drawing of FIG. 1. These hard hats 10 generally consist of a hard outer shell 12 substantially conforming to the shape of the user's head and cover the top of the head from approximately the middle of the back of the head, around the ears, and terminating in a peak 14 or crown that protrudes forward creating a shelf that protects the user's face. Additionally, these hard hats often include webbing or padding (not shown) to separate the hard hat from the user's head, to allow air flow around the user's head, and to more comfortably position the hard hat.

Because wearing a hard hat inherently blocks some or all air flow around a user's head, heat attempting to exit a user's body through the head is trapped in the hard hat. This tends to increase the body temperature of the user, especially if the ambient temperature in which the user is situated is greater than what would normally be deemed comfortable by the user. Additionally, these hard hats are often used in partial or direct sunlight, such as along a roadside during the middle of a sunny day. While the hard hat may be colored or made from a selection of materials that will reflect a large portion of the radiant heat and the webbing may be constructed so as to increase air flow around the user's head, the user is still exposed to radiant energy striking his face and neck. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a device that works in conjunction with the hard hat to block a portion of radiant energy, especially the radiant energy of direct sunlight, that strikes the face and neck of the user.

One approach to this problem is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,204, by Oliver Morrissey. In the Morrissey patent, a flexible protector for the back of the neck of a wearer of a hard hat is disclosed, as shown in the illustration of FIG. 2. A drape 16 depends from a brim 18 which, in turn, rests on the peak of the hard hat (not shown). The purpose of the drape is to protect the back of the user's neck. However, no component is utilized to give the brim a consistent shape. As indicated in the illustration, the brim assumes a non-uniform and irregular shape such as may be exhibited by an unsupported piece of fabric. In this configuration, the brim itself would provide little and inconsistent protection against radiant energy, especially around the front and sides of the user's face. This problem would only increase if the brim becomes more limp resulting from the application of moisture or through the process of aging. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a method of providing a consistent shape to the brim of a hard hat sun shade so as to provide enhanced radiant protection to the user.

Another approach to this problem is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,289 by Melvin O. Hild. In the Hild patent, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a hard hat sun shade 20 is illustrated that removably attaches to a hard hat (not shown). The Hild device is constructed from a sheet of plastic of a rigidity and thickness sufficient to protect the wearer from falling particles and debris. In this manner, the Hild sun shade provides both protection from radiant energy and extends the perimeter of the protection which is the primary purpose for the hard hat, namely, protection from falling objects. However, being constructed of a thick and rigid material, the Hild sun shade can only assume the shape in which it is constructed. A predefined opening allows the sun shade to fit over the top of a hard hat and rest on the crown. Accordingly, if used with a hard hat smaller than that to which it was designed, a gap would exist between the hard hat and the sun shade. Alternatively, if used with a hard hat larger than intended, the sun shade will not fit fully over the top and sides of the hard hat and will not rest firmly on the crown of the hard hat. This will result in a reduction of its ability to protect against both radiant energy and falling objects. Additionally, the Hild device is bulky and stiff and is difficult to transport and store. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a sun shade that may be adjustably attached to a hard hat and may be easily stored when not in use.

One approach to solving the problem of adjustable attachment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,250 by Randolph Black. In the Black patent, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a sunshade 22 for a hard hat 24 includes an elastic band 26, a vinyl disk 28 attached to the hard hat 24 by the elastic band 26, and a fabric covering to protect the vinyl disk (not shown). The vinyl disk used by Black appears to be a rigid piece of material which would suffer many of the same disadvantages of the Hild device (difficult to transport and store, among others). If, however, the vinyl disk is taken to be a flexible material, no provision has been made by Black to support the vinyl disk, thus producing the same problems inherent in the Morrissey device (namely minimal and inconsistent protection from radiant energy around the front and sides of the user's face). Either way, it is desirable to have a sun shade that maintains a substantially consistent shape so as to provide enhanced protection from radiant energy while being easy to transport and store.

Yet another hard hat sun shade is illustrated in the U.S. design Pat. No. D379,679 by Simon J. Poole. The Poole device 30 appears to be a combination of the Morrissey sun shade (neck protection) the Hild device (rigid disk) and the Black invention (fabric covering). However, the Poole device still suffers from either a lack of support for the exterior circumference of the sun shade's brim (if the disk is not rigid), or is difficult to transport and store (if the disk is rigid).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein is a hard hat sun shade that utilizes a piece of flexible material to act as a shield from direct radiant energy, a means for removably and adjustably attaching the flexible material to a hard hat, and a means for supporting an outer edge of the flexible material so that it maintains a substantially consistent shape that provides enhanced protection for the front and side of a user's face. In one embodiment of the invention, an elastic band is secured to an inner edge of the sun shade and placed around the outer circumference of the hard hat, securing the sun shade to the hard hat. In another embodiment of the invention, a draw-string is attached to the inner edge of the sun shade. By removing any slack or play from the draw string, the sun shade is drawn against the hard hat. To prevent the drawstring from releasing the hard hat, the drawstring may be tied in a knot or clasped with a sliding clamp.

A piece of deformable material that stores energy as it is bent and that attempts to return to its original shape (the shape it had prior to being bent) may be attached to the outer edge of the sunshade. Such a springing material may include a stiff wire, such as coat hanger that is not kinked, a flat wire with a degree of springiness, a thin piece of bamboo, or other similar material that can store potential energy while being deformed. In one embodiment of the invention, this spring material may be placed within a pocket placed along the outer edge of the flexible material. It is the springing material's effort to return to its original shape that imparts a substantially consistent shape to the sun shade's brim. The spring material exerts force radially away from the hard hat while the flexible material exerts an opposite force toward the center of the hard hat. Once the springing material has pulled the flexible material to its maximum displacement away from the center of the hard hat, the forces exerted by the springing material and the flexible material reach equilibrium resulting in the substantially consistent shape.

The flexible material may be a piece of soft plastic or fabric, so long as it is shaped so as to conform to the desired shape and size of the sun shade's brim, once pulled by the springing material indicated above. The primary purpose of the flexible material is to block direct radiant energy from striking the front, back, and sides of the user's face neck and face. To this end, the flexible material is stretched between the means for attaching the sun shade to the hard hat and the springing material along the outer edge. A primary advantage of using a flexible material in conjunction with the springing material (such as a deformable energy storing rod) is that the springing device may be easily removed from the sun shade, allowing the flexible material to be folding and easily stored away. Additionally, the springing device may either be stored as a long piece of straight material (with little or no potential energy resulting from deformation) or may be rolled up and stored as a coil.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, a second piece of material is attached to the back portion of the sun shade. In this manner, the second piece of material may drape from the brim of the sun shade to provide enhanced protection of the back of the user's neck.

Various other purposes and advantages of the invention will become clear from its description in the specification that follows and from the novel features particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Therefore, to the accomplishment of the objectives described above, this invention comprises the features hereinafter illustrated in the drawings, fully described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments and particularly pointed out in the claims. However, such drawings and description disclose just a few of the various ways in which the invention may be practiced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a construction helmet referred to as a hard hat.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a hard hat sun shade, known in the art, that rests on the peak of a hard hat and drapes so as to protect the neck of a wearer.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a removable hat brim, known in the art, that includes a sheet of plastic of a rigidity and thickness sufficient to protect the wearer from failing particles and debris.

FIG. 4 is a drawing of a sunshade, known in the art, for use with a hard hat including a vinyl disk and an elastic band.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an ornamental design, known in the art, for a brim for a hard hat.

FIG. 6 a is a drawing of a hard hat sun shade according to the invention, including a piece of flexible material, a means for securing the flexible material to a hard hat, and a means for supporting the piece of flexible material so as to prevent radiant energy from striking a portion of a user that is wearing the hard hat.

FIG. 6 b is an illustration of the hard hat sun shade of FIG. 6 a wherein the means for securing the flexible material to the hard hat includes a drawstring.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of another embodiment of the invention of FIG. 6 a, wherein the shape of the flexible material includes a flap which is allowed to drape over the back and sides of a user's neck.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of another embodiment of the invention of FIG. 7, wherein the springing material is placed substantially closer to the opening for the hard than is the edge of the flexible material, resulting in a brim accompanied by a drape.

FIG. 9 a is an illustration of an alternate embodiment of the invention, including a drape which is secured to a hard hat with a string.

FIG. 9 b is an illustration of the invention of FIG. 9 a including the flexible fabric and springing material.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention is based on the idea of using a spring-like material to pull a piece of flexible material away from the center of a hard hat so as to create a sun shade. An outer edge of the flexible material defines the external perimeter of the resulting sun shade's brim and an internal edge defines an opening through which the hard hat is inserted. The sun shade is removably and adjustably connected to the hard hat by a drawstring or elastic band. The sun shade's flexible material may optionally include a flap that drapes over the sides and back of the user's neck, providing even more protection from direct radiant energy.

Referring to the figures, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, FIGS. 6 a and 6 b illustrate a hard hat sun shade 100, according to the invention, that includes a flexible piece of material 102 sized and shaped to that desired of the resulting sun shade's brim, an inner edge 104 defining a hold through which a hard hat may be inserted, an outer edge 106 defining the external perimeter of the sun shade's brim, a means for pulling the flexible material away from the hard hat 108, and a means for securing the flexible material to the hard hat (not shown). In these embodiments of the invention, the flexible material 102 is simply a piece of fabric intended to block direct radiant energy. However, the flexible material may be soft plastic or other flexible material that may be easily formed into the desired shape yet be folded and stored when not in use. The inner edge 104 may simply be the edge of the flexible piece of material 102 or may include a seam or pocket 110 sewed onto the flexible material 102.

The means for attaching the flexible material to the hard hat 110 may be an elastic band 112, as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 6 a, or a drawstring 114, as illustrated in the embodiment of 6 b. If a drawstring is used, a slidable clasp 116 may be used to clamp the drawstring while it exerts pressure against the hard hat, or the user may tie the ends of the drawstring together. The elastic band 112 may be sewn directly to the flexible material or placed within a pocket 118 (not shown). Similarly, the drawstring 114 may be placed in a similar pocket 120 locating along the inside edge of the flexible material 102 or simply connected to the inner edge of the flexible material.

The means for pulling 108 the flexible material away from the hard hat may be any material that may be bent without kinking that attempts to return to the shape it possessed before it was bent. For example, a wire coat hanger may be bent, without kinking, in a manner that stores potential energy. This potential energy will cause the deformed material to attempt to return to its original shape, resulting in a springing device. Any material that may be deformed while storing potential energy that may also be attached to the flexible material may be used, such as a thin strip of bamboo or a flat piece of wire. In another embodiment of the invention, as illustrated by the drawing of FIG. 7, the flexible material 102 includes a flap 118 that drapes over the sides and back of the user's neck, providing even more protection against direct radiant energy. In yet another embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 a and 9 b, a drape 130 is secured to a hard hat with a drawstring 132 or other similar connecting device.

Those skilled in the art of making sun shades may develop other embodiments of the present invention. However, the terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow. 

1. A sun shade, comprising: a piece of flexible material adapted to accept the crown of a hard hat and prevent direct radiant energy from striking the face and neck of a user; a means for removably and adjustably attaching the flexible material to the hard hat; a piece of springing material adapted to be attached to the flexible material so as to pull the flexible material radially away from the hard hat in order to create a substantially consistently sized and shaped brim.
 2. The sun shade of claim 1, wherein the piece of springing material may be removed from the flexible material.
 3. The sun shade of claim 2, wherein the flexible material may be removed from the hard hat.
 4. The sun shade of claim 3, wherein the flexible material may be folded.
 5. The sun shade of claim 1, wherein the flexible material includes a flap that drapes over the back and sides of a user's face.
 6. The sun shade of claim 1, wherein the means for removably and adjustably attaching the flexible material to the hard hat includes an elastic band.
 7. The sun shade of claim 1, wherein the means for removably and adjustably attaching the flexible material to the hard hat includes a drawstring.
 8. The sun shade of claim 7, further comprising a slidable clasp from connecting two ends of the drawstring.
 9. The sun shade of claim 1, wherein the piece of springing material is attached to the flexible material along an outer edge of the flexible material.
 10. The sun shade of claim 1, wherein the piece of spring material is attached to the flexible material substantially closer to the hard hat than an outer edge of the flexible material and thereby produces a draping portion.
 11. The sun shade of claim 10, wherein the draping portion is adapted to protect the face of the user.
 12. The sun shade of claim 10, wherein the draping portion is adapted to protect the sides of the user's face.
 13. The sun shade of claim 10, wherein the draping portion is adapted to protect the back and sides of the user's neck.
 14. The sun shade of claim 1, wherein the piece of springing material includes a metal rod.
 15. The sun shade of claim 1, wherein the piece of springing material includes a flat piece of wire.
 16. The sun shade of claim 1, wherein the piece of springing material includes a thin strip of bamboo.
 17. The method of preventing direct radiant energy from striking a user's face, comprising the steps of: attaching a piece of flexible material to an outer circumference of a hard hat; and supporting the piece of flexible material with a piece of springing material.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the piece of flexible material includes a flap that drapes over the back and sides of the user's neck.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the piece of flexible material is fabric.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the piece of springing material includes a flat metal wire. 